Air Force/Space Force ROTCDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at Rutgers University
Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick · Scarlet Knights · 485
AFROTC at Rutgers University-New Brunswick commissions officers alongside Princeton University cross-town students.
About this program
Air Force ROTC Detachment 485, the "Ravens," is based on the College Avenue campus of Rutgers University–New Brunswick and is a nationally recognized officer-commissioning program with a rich historical legacy. Its mission is to recruit, develop, and empower students to commission as leaders of character in the nation's Air and Space Forces.
The detachment has earned top honors recently: among 145 detachments nationwide, the Ravens were named the 2025 Air Force ROTC Team of the Year. It also made history through its affiliated Princeton program, which commissioned nine officers in the Class of 2026 — including the program's first two students to enter the U.S. Space Force.
Cadets gain hands-on exposure to the space mission and cutting-edge technology; recent cadets visited MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Lincoln Space Surveillance Complex to learn about space situational awareness and radar. Detachment 485 describes itself as built on trust, united in purpose, and driven by warrior ethos and esprit de corps.
Scholarships available here
Tuition + fees capped at $18,000/yr, plus $900/yr textbook allowance and monthly stipend ($300-$500); may convert to a housing scholarship (up to $10,000/yr). AY27-28 minimums: SAT 1310 / ACT 28 / CLT 93, GPA 3.3. Window: July 1 - December 11, 2026. Award type is fixed at selection - no upgrades.
Service obligation: 4 years
In-College Scholarship Program for freshmen/sophomores already enrolled in AFROTC. Merit-based with fall and spring selection phases; same capped/uncapped structure as HSSP plus the $10,000/yr housing conversion. The General Charles McGee Leadership Award (CMLA) covers non-scholarship cadets who receive an enrollment allocation.
Service obligation: 4 years
Tuition + fees capped at $36,000/yr, plus $900/yr textbook allowance and monthly stipend ($300-$500); may convert to a housing scholarship (up to $10,000/yr). Type 4 replaced the old in-state Type 7 award in the current HSSP structure. AY27-28 minimums: SAT 1310 / ACT 28 / CLT 93, GPA 3.3. Window: July 1 - December 11, 2026.
Service obligation: 4 years
Full tuition with no cap + $900/yr textbook allowance + monthly stipend ($300 freshman to $500 senior); may convert to a housing scholarship (up to $10,000/yr). Most competitive tier. AY27-28 minimums: SAT 1310 / ACT 28 / CLT 93, unweighted GPA 3.3, single test sitting. Window: July 1 - December 11, 2026; two boards (Oct 2026, Mar 2027). 4-year active-duty obligation (longer for rated career fields).
Service obligation: 4 years
Cross-town & partner schools served
Students at these schools can commission through Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick by commuting to Rutgers University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
Contact & location
Email: rotc485@afrotc.rutgers.edu
Phone: 848-932-7706
Site: https://afrotc.rutgers.edu
Located at: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1281
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick located?
Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick is hosted at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Rutgers University-New Brunswick campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
In addition to Rutgers University-New Brunswick, students enrolled at Princeton University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey, Middlesex College, Mercer County Community College, and Raritan Valley Community College can contract through Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick via cross-town agreements. Cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to the host for ROTC-side coursework.
What scholarships are available through Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
AFROTC cadets at this detachment compete for AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition), AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap), AFROTC HSSP Type 7 (in-state), ICSP (in-college). National awards apply out of high school; on-campus side-loads kick in once a cadet is enrolled and contracted.
What's the AFROTC summer training for cadets at Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
Between sophomore and junior year, cadets compete for slots at AFROTC Field Training at Maxwell AFB — the gate that converts a GMC cadet into a POC contracted cadet.
Has Rutgers' Air Force ROTC won recent recognition?
Yes. Among 145 detachments nationwide, Detachment 485 — the "Ravens" — was named the 2025 Air Force ROTC Team of the Year.
What notable milestones has Detachment 485 achieved?
Through its affiliated Princeton program, the detachment commissioned the program's first two U.S. Space Force officers in the Class of 2026, and cadets have visited MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Space Surveillance Complex to study space situational awareness.
Can students at other schools join Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
Yes — Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick accepts cross-town and partner students from 6 other institutions, including Middlesex College, Raritan Valley Community College, Princeton University, Mercer County Community College. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick as any major?
Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at Rutgers University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
Interested in Detachment 485 Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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